I wonder if the local truck repair places and towing companies have lobbied to not lower the road surface there? Do you think the first 5th-wheel owner even realized what happened - he'll be wondering why nothing happens when he turns his AC on.

In England a few double-decker buses have become single-deckers because their drivers weren't paying attention. It sometimes happens when a regular bus route is closed and buses have to go on alternate roads. I have been sitting in the front of double-deckers and instinctively ducked my head when going under low branches and bridges, especially after a heavy snowfall when overhanging branches are heavier and hang lower than usual. On one occasion I heard a branch scraping along the whole length of the roof - the driver downstairs didn't even knew!

There is a 8-1/2 ft under pass in Needles Ca warning signs every place not a day goes by when the snowbirds start their migration someone does not rip a top of a rv or camper trailer, I have even seen the pickup campers laying in the street by people just being plain stupid and not using the bypass

Sad part is you have to stop before proceeding it is a one lane underpass but it still happens as been said you can't fix stupid

I can tell you why they don't dig the road beds down it is called water you dig a road bed down then it requires a pumping station very expensive to install,operate and maintain states, counties and cities have been trying to get away from that for years

There is a 8-1/2 ft under pass in Needles Ca warning signs every place not a day goes by when the snowbirds start their migration someone does not rip a top of a rv or camper trailer, I have even seen the pickup campers laying in the street by people just being plain stupid and not using the bypass

Sad part is you have to stop before proceeding it is a one lane underpass but it still happens as been said you can't fix stupid

good luck

First time I came to your place I found that bridge. I made an immediate left turn next to the tracks and made a loop back. Stupid GPS!

There is a 8-1/2 ft under pass in Needles Ca warning signs every place not a day goes by when the snowbirds start their migration someone does not rip a top of a rv or camper trailer, I have even seen the pickup campers laying in the street by people just being plain stupid and not using the bypass

Sad part is you have to stop before proceeding it is a one lane underpass but it still happens as been said you can't fix stupid

good luck

I think I have been under that bridge, but it was in a pick up truck. Is the bridge you speak of on the Needles side on the Nevada side....can't really remember as it's been over 15 years or so.

Yes water ponding during a storm is a problem. That is not just for pumping station costs alone. There are people out there, probably including those that are oblivious to their vehicle heights, that drive right into standing water and flood out the engine. That would likely happen less often that running into the bridge beams. The other problem is that is a railroad bridge. It carries much higher loadings than a highway bridge. Of course the foundation design has to be such that it carries that load plus a factor of 2 safety allowance. The maximum legal height vehicle is 13' 6". This clearance was posted at 11' 8". In order to get to legal clearance would require removale of 22' of roadway structure. That amount of removed material could have a negative consequence for the iintegrity of the bridge foundations.

Best move for this bridge would be to close it and establish a new crossing. No comments on the irrational responses from local businesses or soccer mom shuttles about out of distance travel or those that don't know any other way to get from their point of origin to their desired destination aside from going under this bridge. Ignorance can be cured by education (in some countries), there is no cure for stupidity.

« Last Edit: November 04, 2012, 07:22:04 AM by expressbus »

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Will Garner, JrSouthern Pines, NC1991 Prevost Conversion by Country Coach

Hi All, my Dad could tell an 8 penny nail from a 10 penny nail at 5 feet, in LA tail gating of motorcycles is a real problem from people who can't judge distances, I just move away from them, I guess they're just all equal partners in the world, that's just the way it is, lvmci...

I could see that same thing happening to me. I miss signs lot of times. If I was a bit distracted because I was trying to follow directions, I might (I say might) not process the height of an upcoming structure. Fortunately, we are probably less than 11.5 feet.

It would seem to me that the city that allows that problem to persist is run by morons though. Aside from lowering the roadway, or creating an alternate crossing. They could even put one of those hanging cross boards, as you often see in parking structures, across the roadway that over sized vehicles would hit as a warning they won't clear the bridge. Heck, these days they could have a sensor that would set off alarms, signals and dancing gerbils.